Pocket attachment for belts



192 may 7 7 F. P. MITCHELL POCKET ATTACHMENT FOR BELTS Filed June 26 gvwwntoi in! i. ililikill null lulllllll) Patented May 17, 1927.

FRANK P. MITCHELL, F WILMINGTON, ILLINOIS,

POCKET ATTACHMENT ,FOB BELTS.

l Application filed June 26, 1926. Serial No. 118,773.

I) r This invention relates to a pocket attachment for belts and more particularly to the construction of a safety pocket which maybe applied to the belt of the wearer and e which cannot be opened without the knowledge of the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to rovide a device of this character which may is: readily applied to and removed from the belt.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is hinged at one end to the belt, so that it may be readily swung to a position where it may be opened and articles removed therefrom or re laced therein "and which, when Iionlthe close position, is firmly locked to the e t, see and other objects I; attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of a pocket constructed in accordance with my mven tion, a portion of the cover being broken away;

Figure 2 is a similar View of the pocket in the open position;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fi 11's 1;

igure 4 is a section on the line 1 -4: of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an inner face View of one of the belt clamps. I, 1 Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 10 and 11 indicate clamps for attachment to the belt. These clamps may be attached to the belt in any p suitable manner and are at present illustrated as in the form of'loops which are slipped over the belt from the end thereof and which are provided with pivoted clamps 12 having toothed jaws 13 which will engage in the material of the belt'at the rear face thereof and firmly hold the clamps against 1 longitudinal movement and in properly adjusted positions. The clamp 10 is formed with one member 14: of a hinge, while the clamp 11 has formed therethrough a key hole slot 15, for a purpose presently to apear. I p The pocket proper includes a metal back stay 16, one end of which is provided with thesecond member 17 of the hinge and the opposite end of which has an extension providing a head 18 of the same size as the larger portion 19 of the keyhole slot 15 and a neck 20 of the same size as the reduced portion 21 of the keyhole slot. The head is angularl offset fromthe plate, as indicated, so that's e head may be introduced through the slot from the under side of the clampin form of latching connection may be provided. A connection of this character is, however, preferred, for the reason that in order to release the plate 16 so that it may swing about the hinge, the belt must be flexed and this, of course, cannot take place without the wearer being aware of the fact.

The outer face of the plate 16 is covered with leather, as at 21, and at the inner face of this plate are formed a plurality of pack ets or compartments 22. The leather cover for the outer face of the plate is continued to provide a flap 23, the inner face of which" may be provided with a compartment 24 for the reception of identification cards or the like. The tfiap 23 may be folded down over the openings of the compartments 22 to prevent access thereto and when the plate is in the locked position, this flap will be held between the outer face of the belt and the inner faces of the compartment walls, so that it cannot be withdrawn until the head 18 is released from the clamp 11 and the late 16 swung to its open position.

It will be obvious that a device of this character may be readily applied to or removed from the belt and access may e had thereto at any time. At the same ti e, access thereto by any other person than the wearer is substantially impossible without thewearer being notified of the fact that the pocket is being tampered with. Any attempt to obtain access to the compartments 22 by cutting the leather covering 21 will be foiled by the metal plate 16 which is preferably formed of thin steel. Since the construction hereinbefore set forth is obviously capable of a certain range of change and modification without mateeluding ranged at the inner face of the plate, a cover .for the plate.

including an extension forming a nap for the pocket adapted to be arranged between the openings of the compartments of the pocket and the adjacent face of the belt to which the device is applied.

2. In combination with a belt, a plate hinged thereto and swingable about the hinges thereof to place either face of the plate in opposition to the belt, a pocket formed upon one face of the plate and means ftir locking the free end of the plate to the belt with said face of the plate in opposition to the belt.

3. in combination with a belt, a plate lunged thereto and swingable about the hinges thereof to place either face of the plate in opposition to the belt, a pocket formed upon one face of the plate, means for locking the free end of the plate to the belt with said face of the plate in opposition to the belt and a flap associated with said plate to provide a closure for the entrance of said pocket and adapted to be arranged between the face of said pocket and the belt when the plate is in the locked position.

l. in combination with a belt. a plate hinged thereto and swingable about the hinges thereof to place either face of'the plate in opposition to the belt, a pocket belt and having means whereby they may be secured in adjusted positions thereon, a metal plate hinged to one of said loops and having a latching engagement with the other of the loops, a pocket construction ineluding a plurality of compartments arranged at the inner face ofthe plate, a cover for the plate including an extension forming a flap for the pocket adapted to be arranged between the openings of the compartments of the pocket and the adjacent face of the belt to which the device is ap-' plied. the hinged connection between the plate and belt and the means for latching the plate to the belt each including a loop slidable upon the belt and means for securing the loop in adjusted positions upon the belt.

(i. In combination with a belt, a loop slid able upon the belt and securable in ad justed positions thereon, a plate hinged to said loop and swingable about the hinges thereof to place either face otthc plate in opposition to the belt, a pocket formed upon one face of the plate, a second loop slidable upon the belt and coacting means upon said second loop and the free end of the plate for locking the plate with the pocket bearing face thereof in opposition to the belt.

In testimony whereof .I hereunto alhx my signature.

FRANK P. MITCHELL. 

